PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hayato Shibata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Gat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Gat has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Shibata
vs
Gat

176 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hayato Shibata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Gat!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gat fails with the takedown.
Shibata tries for a takedown but Gat sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Shibata rushes Gat and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shibata has Gat pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gat manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gat drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shibata gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Shibata turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Shibata throws a strike aimed at the side of Gat's head but Gat avoids it well.

Shibata swings around for an armbar but Gat sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Shibata's guard.
Shibata looking for a sweep. Not yet Shibata, not yet.
Gat wants to get up but he can't break Shibata's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gat slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Shibata trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gat won't allow Shibata to sweep him here.
Gat controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gat trying to stand up but can't free himself from Shibata's guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Shibata bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gat sneaks back into half guard.
Gat is holding on to half guard well.
Shibata missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gat tries to roll over but Shibata keeps him under control.
Gat regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gat looks gassed!
Gat looking to control.
Gat pulls Shibata in to control the position.
Shibata has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibata trying to control the position from guard on top but Gat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gat is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gat keeping moving, preventing Shibata from controlling successfully.
Shibata missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shibata trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gat tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Shibata moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Shibata breaks from the clinch.
Gat wants to clinch

and Shibata counters by clinching up.

Shibata pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shibata shoots in but Gat avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hayato Shibata. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gat misses with a takedown

and Shibata counters with a takedown into side control.
Gat sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Gat is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Shibata's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Shibata's back!

Shibata defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Gat's arms.
Gat avoiding Shibata 's attempts to control his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hayato Shibata dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Shibata scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gat wants to get back to his feet.
Gat has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shibata is working away from the top position though.
Shibata wants to control but Gat is keeping him busy.
Gat keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gat trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Shibata prevents Gat from getting the reversal.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shibata misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibata trying to control but Gat is having none of it.

Shibata jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Gat is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Gat and Shibata has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Gat tries to bench press Shibata off him but Shibata keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Shibata trying to control the action but Gat is working from the bottom.
Gat is looking to regain half guard here but Shibata keeps moving and retains side control.
Gat struggling a bit here.
Gat is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Shibata is staying active.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gat manages to get back to half guard.
Shibata seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gat does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gat fails with the takedown
and Shibata makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Shibata with a poor takedown
and Gat counters with a nice body kick.
Gat shoots for a double leg takedown but Shibata sprawls well. He's pushed Gat's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gat fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gat clinches but Shibata breaks the clinch

and Shibata counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shibata.
Shibata loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gat looking to control.

Gat looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Shibata trying to control but Gat is working from the bottom.
Gat is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hayato Shibata dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Shibata drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shibata trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gat trying to control the position.
Shibata loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shibata looking to pass the guard.
Shibata postures up.

Gat kicks Shibata off and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gat slips a jab and a cross from Shibata.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gat shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Shibata counters by clinching up.

Shibata breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gat has his takedown stuffed

and Shibata counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gat is looking to improve his position.
Gat is trying to control but can't.
Gat is trying to get back to full guard.
Shibata is looking to take a break and control but Gat is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gat moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gat keeping moving, preventing Shibata from controlling successfully.
Gat tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gat not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Shibata bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gat tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibata advances to mount.
Gat wants to try and get back to his feet.
Gat manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Gat is looking to control Shibata's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gat avoid being mounted?
Shibata prevents Gat from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shibata trying to control from half guard but Gat is working away.
Gat has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shibata is working away from the top position though.
Shibata thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hayato Shibata overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gat is pressing down on Shibata's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Shibata distracts Gat with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
John Gat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hayato Shibata is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shibata trying to control the position from guard on top but Gat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hayato Shibata showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shibata has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hayato Shibata!